The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-20
UNWELCOME VISITORS.
EVENTFUL WEEK IN THE HISTORY
OF MEMPHIS AND ARKANSAS.
Forest Fires In the Latter Fill the
Former with Dense Smoke, Which
Causes Loss OF Plety, Injury. to
Health. and Delay In Travel.

Health. and Delay In Travel.
ugh! isn't it awful II this doesn't lift
and boat away pretty soon, wen all col
iSpse and retire TO mother earth |" These
are the tenor of remarks made by every
man and woman met during the past week.
They referred to the heavy clouds of
smoke which lowered with vilainous
Consciousness TO the earth, extending up
ward for several hundred yards. Wher-
ever one went about the city il was the
same thing. Electric lights doomed up in
about the same proportion az a lightning
bug on night Of Egyptian darkness AS
for street gas lamps, the only way to find
them was through the agencies of a search
warrant and lantern. The reckless pedes-
trian, cursing the fate which sent him
forth after tho imprcgatcd atmosphere
assumed its densest form, soon found him
self forcibly greeting some hidden obstruc-
ton, and lost his flow Of language in bitter
revlllngs. To the man of desperately
wicked purposes in life this condition OF
things was ominently desirable, because il
enabled him to elude the sleepy policeman
surprising one should struggle into the
vicinity OF his operations. Thus does il
appear that while one class of humanity
found in the lethargic volumes OF smoke q
sure loss of early picty and disgust, 10 an
other they came as u protecting angel.
But there came q change in the weather
which reversed the foregoing positions.
That monument 10 public beneinction, the
cold wave flag, appeared upon the scene.
With II came no audible or visible promise
that the canopy Of smoke should disap-
pear, but there was going to be q change
IN the temperature. IL so happened that
this change was accompanied by bowling
norther, bearing an icicle on its every
breath. This norther got under that smoke
and there was lively shaking up and
bearing away. There must have been
some strain in the contest, for the wind
whistled and moaned as il pushed TO des-
pcration. by 10 o'clock last night there
was pcrccpuble decrease in the density
OF smoke, but not an entire absence, MS the
inexhausiible supply from the Arkansas
forest bres was waited over in large guam
titles, and but for the violent reception
encountered would soon have settled down
as compactly as on the preceding nights.
And what was the effect Of this unusual
visitation upon railroad and river interests
in this vicinity They experienced far
more delay and Inconvenience than any
other class Of industry or private indiyid-
uals. From O'Clock in the afternoon
until O'Clock a. m. next day, the running
OF trains, where such was possible, was at
tended by the greatest risk, rendering I'M
usual precautions necessary. An APPEAL
reporter visited all the railroad Yards in
the city yesterday afternoon, in search
Tor information. While none OF the roads
have felt II necessary 60 discontinue trains
entirely, yet the men in charge have been
instructed 10 run very slowly sometimes
ut snail plce, hguratiyely speaking
until they pull out from under the
heavy canopying This seems TO dis1r-
range everything in the way Of schedule,
and doubles the responsibility of the train
dispatcher, but 50 lar these experts have
been equal 20 all demands upon them.
With river steamers the ease has been
different, and affected them Just a. would
o heavy fog. Many n night has been
passe1 by them laslcd 10 fasienings ~.
mote from any landing. and with nothing
10 interest or disturb the passengers and
crew s1ye the dismal hooiing of the owl,
the crying oi the jack rabbit, and an oc-
CasiOnal yelp from a distant trailing hound
~ he scented the trail Of a proving coon.
Despite the uncertain opinions Of some,
people Insist upon the notion that there Is
q lurking danger 10 health in the
unwelcoine visitor. II il unpleasant
90 bcustly extent. Upon this point
there arc no divisions. II penCtriicS
tho eyes, cans, nose, throat and lungs, and
In auch quantities and force ~ 10 inilame
aud impair them. More particularly Is ils
effect visible upon the eyes. They become
red and swollen, itch and burn in an UNI
comfortable sort OF way, rubbing and wip-
ing follow, and applications Of cold water
are rsOricd to for relief. Now the qucs-
ton which naturally arises Is, II the eyes
are thus painfully affected, arc not the
other mcmbcrs mentioned equally ~. A
TO the lungs, this il undeniallc, rs tits of
coughing and laborcd breathing attest II
they are temporarily affected, what reason
Is thcrc To presume the injury will not be
permanently Granted that the iumiglting
theory is well founded and malaria routed,
there set remains the danger noted.
From whence IL oil this smoke blown
into and around the city, Any citizen Of
or traveller through Arkansas. between
Memphis and Little Rock, can answer the
question. For several days past forest fires
have been iuriouly raging. aud are now
spread over an enormous ARA. Apprchcn-
sion Is increased Nv tlic long continued alb
srncc Of min, without which the fires will
continue 10 burn indefinitely. So inr the
loss has been confined mostly to forests
and iynccs, the plowed ground serving ~
u protector for lnrm AMI out-houscs. There
II no adequate estimate OF the injury,
which will bc morc largely felt in the iut-
urc than now. The figures 30 ar given run
up into tho millions. with the end no
telling whom. Railroads are now in the
direct line Of The ire, and several miles Of
track and bridges arc threatened. Already
iis riyagrs are going on. IL WIS learned
last night that pusCngvr3 who started Tor
81. Louis over tho Kansas City r1ad re-
turned 10 this city because Of the burning
Of long trcs,lc. TO say the least, the
situation and prospects are alarming. With
no min, Indications OF none, aud the Dire
gaining In fury AMI area every hour, Il
/ looks very much like the country lying be-
| tween the ~ Francis anil Arkansas rivers
Is doomed, incluiing every piece Of yalu.
able properly thereon.
The smoke af CoTccVItie.
r.urVYttffp Nj ~ ia ~, =